§ 3.37 p.m.
THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR COMMONWEALTH RELATIONS (THE EARL OF HOME)My Lords, if my noble and learned friend would not mind, I have only a very short statement to make, but I thought your Lordships would like to hear what the Prime Minister is at present saying in another place. The text of Mr. Khrushchev's letter to my right honourable friend the Prime Minister was received by telegram from Moscow yesterday morning. As the House knows, Mr. Khrushchev suggested that there should be a meeting at Geneva on Tuesday of the heads of Government of the United Kingdom, France, India, the United States and the Soviet Union, attended by the Secretary-General of the United Nations. The message contains many allegations and statements which I do not think any noble Lords in this House would accept. Nevertheless, as my right honourable friend said last week, we are anxious to find a suitable means of trying to resolve, through a meeting of heads of Government, the grave problems which confront us. Her Majesty's Government are urgently considering, in consultation with our Allies, the best means by which to arrange for a meeting which Heads of Governments could attend. We shall also be keeping in close touch with the Governments of other Commonwealth countries. A further statement will be made as soon as possible.
§ 3.39 p.m.
§ VISCOUNT ALEXANDER OF HILLSBOROUGHMy Lords, I am quite sure that the Government have a difficult task at the present time, and I would pay due respect to that. But I must say that in the impending possibilities in the world at large to-day, and especially in the 25 Middle East, when an offer of this kind comes it is important that it should be dealt with very urgently indeed. How far the consultations would go between, shall I say, the Allies of the Free World, one cannot say; but if this matter is now to be long-drawn-out, and then there are eventualities which might perhaps have been prevented by an early response to the Khrushchev letter, it would be a great tragedy. I greatly hope that we may be quite certain that we can have a final and firm statement by to-morrow as to the intentions of Her Majesty's Government, the United States and others concerned.
THE EARL OF HOMEMy Lords, I am much obliged to the noble Viscount, Lord Alexander of Hillsborough. I believe we and our Allies are fully seized of the urgency of this question, but it also needs a great deal of thought, for the important thing about any kind of meeting is that it should be able to show results; and quite clearly a meeting at a day's notice could not do any such thing. I have no doubt that the noble Viscount would wish us to make with the Commonwealth and our Allies those contacts which are necessary, but I will certainly make a statement as soon as possible.
§ LORD TEVIOTMy Lords, I should just like to say a word upon this subject. I hope Her Majesty's Government appreciate the enormous importance that this question has in the minds of everybody in the country. Here is an opportunity which has never occurred before, and I hope that Her Majesty's Government will realise that it is well for us to seize this opportunity now, bearing in mind that by discussing now various items in Mr. Khrushchey's letter we may miss an opportunity in regard to which noble Lords on the other side of the House and certainly myself have said, "Let us get round the table as soon as possible." Here seems to be the first chance that we have had of getting Mr. Khrushchev and other people with whom we are intimately connected round the table now, and I hope that Her Majesty's Government will be able to do as the noble Viscount the Leader of the Opposition asks and tell us something quite definite which will perhaps enable us to go ahead on this all-important question.
THE EARL OF HOMEMy Lords, we do not want to miss an opportunity, for that would be a grave error; but we want to create an opportunity which will give practical, positive results. That is the important thing.
LORD REAMy Lords, does the statement of the noble Earl mean that at present Her Majesty's Government have neither accepted nor rejected the suggestion in the letter of Mr. Khrushchev?
THE EARL OF HOMEMy Lords, I have said that we are considering the situation with our Allies with a view to deciding the best way in which to meet the proposal which Mr. Khrushchev has made, and to answer his letter.
§ LORD SALTERMy Lords, might I suggest that even though it is desirable that there should be a meeting followed by positive results, it is conceivable that even though Her Majesty's Government take the view that the chances against such positive results are very great, it might be better to meet, with a risk of achieving no positive results, rather than to refuse to meet in the present circumstances?
§ VISCOUNT ALEXANDER OF HILLSBOROUGHMy Lords, I hope that in view of the request which has now been made by noble Lords on both sides of the House we may hope for and expect a final statement to-morrow. I am reminded that the right honourable and learned gentleman, the Foreign Secretary, has been over to the other side and seen both the United States President and the Secretary of State there. Listening to the wireless broadcast this morning I understood that they were in complete agreement as to policy in this matter. While, of course, it is recognised that the right honourable and learned gentleman still had to discuss the position with his colleagues when he came back. I cannot see that there need now be a long-drawn-out delay before a final decision is published, as the important and primary consultation basically necessary has already taken place.
THE EARL OF HOMEMy Lords, I hope there will not be any long-drawn-out or unnecessary delay, but we have our friends to consider. The right honourable and learned gentleman, the Foreign Secretary, arrived back here at half past ten this morning and we have 27 only had the chance of consultation with him before lunch. And we must let the Commonwealth countries know what is in our mind.
§ VISCOUNT STANSGATEMy Lords, may I ask the noble Earl whether a reply has been received from India and, if so, what that country said?
THE EARL OF HOMEMy Lords, we are in consultation with the Indian Government now. It is not our practice to reveal what Commonwealth Governments say to each other in private, but I hope that when I come to make a final statement the position will be made clear.
§ VISCOUNT STANSGATEMy Lords, I did not ask about consultation between members of the Commonwealth but whether the Government of India, as an independent Government, had replied to Mr. Khrushchev, and, if so, whether the noble Earl knew the terms of the reply.
THE EARL OF HOMEMy Lords, the Indian Government have replied to Mr. Khrushchev but I am not quite sure whether they have made that reply public.
§ EARL ATTLEEMy Lords, may I ask the noble Earl, the Leader of the House, this question? He has said it is very important, if we are to have a Conference, that we should get results. Will he also bear in mind that not having a Conference might have very bad results?